Oakland Athletics - PlayerWatch

August 24, 2012|Reuters

RHP Tyson Ross was optioned to Class AAA Sacramento after Oakland's 5-0 loss at Tampa Bay in which he allowed five runs in the fifth inning. Ross extended his losing streak to six games, the longest by an A's pitcher this season. He said after the game that he was told he now would pitch in relief at Sacramento and that he would rejoin the A's in September.

3B Josh Donaldson might remain an option at third base even when Brandon Inge returns from the disabled list. Manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that the team would go with the best option on a given night upon Inge's return. That's because Donaldson has been performing well since being recalled Aug. 14. His six-game hitting streak ended Thursday, but he drew a walk and he is 15-for-37 (.405) since his recall.

INF Brandon Inge went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while serving as the designated hitter Thursday in his first rehab game for Class AAA Sacramento. According to Oakland manager Bob Melvin, the assignment will last at least three games. Melvin said the A's want to make sure that Inge is 100 percent healed before returning. Inge, who felt as if he dislocated his right shoulder and popped it back in Aug. 11, is out with what has been described as a right shoulder strain. Melvin said that the team wants to avoid doing anything that would make surgery necessary should the joint remain unstable.

SS Stephen Drew recorded his first hit with the A's, a single in the fourth inning, then added a double in the sixth inning and also drew a walk. Drew's single snapped an 0-for-22 skid that dated back to Aug. 14, when he was playing with Arizona.

OF Josh Reddick went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Thursday, making him 14-for-94 (.149) with 31 strikeouts in his past 22 games. Reddick, the A's No. 3 hitter, has seen his average slide to .247. A recent tooth extraction had complications, and he has been dealing with pain from that for a week and a half.